Q. What qualifications do prospective mentors need?
A. Prospective mentors must be 18 years or older and have a desire to be a positive, consistent presence in a child’s life. Prospective mentors must complete an application: watch a 10-min New Mentor Training Video; attend a two-hour in-person New Mentor Orientation; complete a criminal history background check and fingerprinting; and provide three personal references before they are matched with a young person. Mentors commit to at least one year with their mentee.
Q. How are mentors and mentees matched?
A. Facilitating healthy, lasting mentoring relationships is more of an art than a science. The matching process can take some time as Aspire staff intentionally matches mentors and mentees based on compatible personality traits and mutual interests instead of a “warm body to warm body” approach.
Q. What do I do when I’m with my mentee?
A. While each match will settle into their own unique pattern of how and when they get together, our Aspire staff regularly plans free activities for mentors and mentees. We have enjoyed scavenger hunts, golfing, bowling, self-defense classes, beading, painting, holiday parties, roller skating, laser tag, game nights, end-of-school year celebrations, and more!
We have seen great success when mentors take their mentees “alongside” what they are already doing. Remember, showing and introducing mentees to people, places, and things outside their routine environment is a very important goal of a mentoring relationship.